Rap Group N.W.A. Arrested In Brawl

NEW ORLEANS - Members of the rap group N.W.A. were arrested after a brawl in a hotel lobby that injured five people before it was quelled by officers on horseback, police said yesterday.

About 50 people were involved in Friday night's fight in the lobby of the downtown Sheraton Hotel, and 80 to 100 officers were called in to break it up, said Sgt. Marlon Defillo.

After police brought about calm, "the rappers N.W.A. then attacked the police officers, during which time another altercation erupted," Defillo said. "The horses were brought into the hotel to defuse the situation."

Robert Williams, 22, Tray Curry, 24, and Andre Young, 27, who also is known as Dr. Dre, were each arraigned yesterday on three counts of battery on a police officer and single counts of inciting a riot, criminal damage to property and resisting arrest.

Johnny King, 24, was arraigned on charges of inciting a riot, criminal damage to property and resisting arrest.

Another suspect, Robin Allen, 26, was arraigned on a single count on each of the charges.

The rappers, all from California, were in New Orleans for a radio convention. They were released yesterday on bond ranging from $3,500 to $6,500.

The band's rap focuses primarily on violent, street-gang life.

Defillo said the rappers and members of their entourage couldn't get into a full movie theater Friday and returned to the hotel, where some were denied entry because they didn't have passes. He

said they became angry and started a fight.